Caffeine in drinks
How much caffeine is in Cappuccino?
Data checked against the source on 2026-10-03 by Oleksii Y.
One 8 fl oz cup (240 g) of Cappuccino has 86.4 mg of caffeine, according to USDA Agricultural Research Service, FoodData Central (FNDDS).
How Cappuccino compares
- Strength: 37 mg per 100 ml.
- One 8 fl oz cup (240 g) has as much caffeine as about one cup of brewed coffee, which has 94.8 mg per 8 fl oz cup.
- Of the 13 other coffee drinks in our coffee chart, 3 have more caffeine per serving and 9 have less.
How much will be left at bedtime?
1 × 8 fl oz cup (240 g) of Cappuccino
Left at 11:00 PM (8 h later), average metabolism
≈ 28 mg
Range 14–43 mg (fast to slow metabolism)
To be at 50 mg or less by bedtime, have 86 mg by 6:20 PM (average) or 3:59 PM (slow metabolism).
What sleep studies found near this dose
- Gardiner et al. 2025 (randomized trial): In 23 healthy young men, 100 mg taken 12, 8 or 4 hours before bed had no significant effect on measured or self-rated sleep.
- Gardiner et al. 2023 (meta-analysis): To avoid losing sleep time, the authors suggest a coffee (107 mg per 250 ml) at least 8.8 hours before bed.
Estimate from a simple model: half-life of 3, 5 or 8 hours, 50 mg bedtime target. How we calculate
Caffeine by size
| Serving | Caffeine |
|---|---|
| 8 fl oz cup (240 g) | 86.4 mg |
| Small (360 g) | 129.6 mg |
How long does Cappuccino stay in your system?
Our model halves caffeine every 5 hours for average metabolism, and every 3 or 8 hours for fast or slow metabolism. From one 8 fl oz cup (240 g) of Cappuccino (86 mg), about 43 mg is still in your body 5 hours later and about 22 mg after 10 hours. If you clear caffeine slowly (an 8-hour half-life), about 36 mg is left after 10 hours.
Estimated caffeine left at 11:00 PM from one 8 fl oz cup (240 g) (86 mg), using a half-life of 5 hours for average metabolism and 3 to 8 hours for the range. How we calculate
| Had at | Left at bedtime (average) | Range |
|---|---|---|
| 8:00 AM (15 h before bed) | ≈ 11 mg | 3–23 mg |
| 12:00 PM (11 h before bed) | ≈ 19 mg | 7–33 mg |
| 3:00 PM (8 h before bed) | ≈ 28 mg | 14–43 mg |
| 6:00 PM (5 h before bed) | ≈ 43 mg | 27–56 mg |
How many fit in a day?
Reference amounts are for caffeine from all sources combined. Counted at the upper end of the stated amount, one serving at a time:
- Up to 400 mg a day for most healthy adults (FDA, EFSA): about 4 servings.
- Up to 200 mg at one time for healthy adults (EFSA): about 2 servings in one go.
- Up to 200 mg a day in pregnancy (EFSA, NHS): about 2 servings.
These are reference amounts for groups of people, not a personal limit. Some people feel jittery or sleep worse on much less. See the cutoff calculator for timing.
Good to know
USDA's value is a recipe estimate (62 g espresso, 183 g 2% milk and 118.5 g water), not a lab measurement of a cafe cappuccino.
How the serving amount was worked out: USDA lists 36 mg per 100 g; 240 g × 0.36 = 86.4 mg; 360 g × 0.36 = 129.6 mg.
Cappuccino vs other espresso drink drinks
- Caffè latte: Cappuccino has the same amount of caffeine as caffè latte per 8 fl oz cup (240 g): 86.4 mg vs 86.4 mg.
- Caffè mocha: Cappuccino has about the same amount of caffeine as caffè mocha per 8 fl oz cup (240 g): 86.4 mg vs 81.8 mg.
- Espresso macchiato: Cappuccino has less caffeine than espresso macchiato per 100 ml (37 vs 144 mg). Cappuccino: 86.4 mg per 8 fl oz cup (240 g); Espresso macchiato: 85.2 mg per 2 fl oz espresso cup (60 g). Per serving the order evens out, because the servings differ in size.
Common questions
How much caffeine is in Cappuccino?
USDA Agricultural Research Service, FoodData Central (FNDDS) gives 86.4 mg of caffeine per 8 fl oz cup (240 g). Other sizes are in the table on this page.
How many Cappuccino servings can I have in a day?
The FDA and EFSA cite up to 400 mg of caffeine a day, from all sources combined, for most healthy adults. At 86.4 mg per 8 fl oz cup (240 g), that is about 4 servings if Cappuccino is your only source. In pregnancy the reference is 200 mg a day.
How late can I drink Cappuccino?
With an 11:00 PM bedtime, our model suggests having one serving by about 6:20 PM for average metabolism, or 3:59 PM if you clear caffeine slowly. This is an estimate, not a rule.
Does Cappuccino have more caffeine than Caffè latte?
Cappuccino has the same amount of caffeine as caffè latte per 8 fl oz cup (240 g): 86.4 mg vs 86.4 mg.
How long does Cappuccino stay in your system?
Of the 86 mg in one 8 fl oz cup (240 g), roughly 43 mg remains after 5 hours and 22 mg after 10 hours with our average 5-hour half-life. From fast to slow metabolism, 10 hours later it is between 9 and 36 mg.
Where the number comes from
- Coffee, Cappuccino. USDA Agricultural Research Service, FoodData Central (FNDDS). FDC ID 2710472, nutrient "Caffeine" (262): portions "1 cup (8 fl oz)" = 240 g and "1 small" = 360 g; recipe ingredients. Accessed 2026-10-02. Source ↗
Recipes and labels change. If a number here no longer matches the label, the label wins.
General information, not medical advice
If you feel unwell after caffeine — for example chest pain, a fast or irregular heartbeat that does not settle, fainting, confusion or trouble breathing — get urgent medical help. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, under 18, take medication, or have a heart, liver or anxiety condition, high blood pressure or a sleep disorder, ask a doctor or pharmacist what amount is right for you.
Sources
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration (2024). Spilling the Beans: How Much Caffeine is Too Much? FDA Consumer Updates. fda.gov ↗
- European Food Safety Authority. Caffeine | EFSA. EFSA topic page (summary of the 2015 Scientific Opinion on the safety of caffeine). efsa.europa.eu ↗
- NHS. Foods to avoid in pregnancy. NHS. nhs.uk ↗
An app for better sleep is on the way
We’re working on a mobile app to help you sleep better. It isn’t out yet. Leave your email and we’ll let you know when it launches.